Methods and systems for incorporating nicotine into oral products

ABSTRACT

This document provides methods and systems for stabilizing nicotine and incorporating nicotine into one or more oral products. This document also provides oral products. Nicotine can be stabilized by mixing liquid nicotine with cellulosic fiber such that the liquid nicotine absorbs into pores of the cellulosic fiber to form a cellulosic fiber-nicotine mixture. In some cases, a cellulosic fiber-nicotine mixture can be combined with one or more binders and molded into an oral product.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/333,877, filed on Jul. 17, 2014, (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,521,864)claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Application No.61/856,409, filed on Jul. 19, 2013.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates to methods and systems for incorporating nicotineinto oral products. For example, methods and systems provided herein canstabilize nicotine for handling and/or incorporation into an oralproduct.

BACKGROUND

Nicotine is a component of various tobacco products. Over the years,however, various methods and systems have been developed for providingnicotine to adult subjects without the presence of tobacco plant tissue.Some ways tobacco-free nicotine is provided include transdermal patches,lozenges, and nicotine chewing gums.

Nicotine, or 3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl) pyridine, is a tertiary aminewith the following structure:

Under ambient conditions, nicotine is an oily, volatile, hygroscopicliquid that is sensitive to light and air. Nicotine's chemical andphysical properties present a number of processing and stability issues.For example, because nicotine is volatile, it may evaporate during itsincorporation into an oral product such as a gum or lozenge. In aneffort to reduce potential processing and stability issues associatedwith the nicotine compound, a number of nicotine complexes have beendeveloped. For example, one method includes the preparation of a complexof nicotine and an ion exchange resin. A well-known complex that iscurrently used in the commercially-available nicotine chewing gums isnicotine polacrilex, which is a complex of nicotine and the cationexchange resin AMBERLITE 164.

SUMMARY

This document provides methods and systems for stabilizing nicotine andincorporating liquid nicotine into an oral product. This documentprovides oral products incorporating liquid nicotine. In some cases, anoral product provided herein can include cellulosic fiber and nicotineabsorbed into pores of the cellulosic fiber. In some cases, an oralproduct provided herein can include a binder matrix, cellulosic fiberwithin the binder matrix, and nicotine absorbed into pores of thecellulosic fiber. Methods and systems provided herein include mixingliquid nicotine with cellulosic fiber to produce a cellulosicfiber-nicotine mixture. In some cases, the cellulosic fiber-nicotinemixture can be combined with one or more binders and molding the mixtureinto an oral product having a binder matrix.

Direct incorporation of nicotine into oral products can present a numberof difficulties. In some cases, mixing liquid nicotine with a mixture ofdry ingredients can disrupt certain molding processes, such ascompression molding. In some case, the direct incorporation of liquidnicotine can result in an excessively fast release rate from theresulting oral product. Nicotine complexes, such as nicotine polacrilex,however, can present problems with incorporating nicotine into an oralproduct. For example, certain molding processes can use temperaturesthat cause certain nicotine complexes to degrade. In some cases,nicotine complexes can result in an excessively slow release rate ofnicotine from the resulting oral product. Moreover, the release rate canbe rate limited by chemical reactions that allow the nicotine to bereleased, thus an adult consumer (e.g., an adult tobacco consumer) canhave a limited ability to adjust the release of nicotine. Nicotinecomplexes sometimes produce acid by-products during the release ofnicotine, which can further impede the release of nicotine and/orproduce an unpleasant flavor. Some oral products incorporating nicotinecomplexes can incorporate buffers to control the release rate and/orcounteract the release of acid by the nicotine complex, but thesebuffers can provide unpleasant flavors. For example, sodium carbonateand/or sodium bicarbonate can be used as a buffering agent with anicotine complex, but sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate canalso provide an undesirable or off-taste.

Combining liquid nicotine with cellulosic fiber as provided herein canprovide stabilized nicotine that can be used as an oral product alone orincorporated into oral products. In some cases, oral products providedherein include a binder matrix, cellulosic fiber dispersed in the bindermatrix, and nicotine in pores of the cellulosic fiber. The cellulosicfiber-nicotine combination provided herein can be used in a wide varietyof molding operations, including compression molding techniques thatcall for dry ingredients.

Cellulosic fiber used in the methods, systems, and oral productsprovided herein can be derived from plant tissue. In some cases,cellulosic fiber used in the methods, systems, and oral productsprovided herein can include cellulose. Cellulosic fibers used in themethods, systems, and oral products provided herein can include ligninand/or lipids. Cellulosic fibers used in the methods, systems, and oralproducts provided herein can be non-tobacco cellulosic fibers. Forexample, cellulosic fibers can be selected from the following: sugarbeet fiber, wood pulp fiber, cotton fiber, bran fiber, citrus pulpfiber, grass fiber, willow fiber, poplar fiber, and combinationsthereof. Cellulosic fiber used in the methods, systems, and oralproducts provided herein may be chemically treated prior to use. Forexample, cellulosic fiber used in the methods, systems, and oralproducts provided herein can be CMC, HPMC, HPC, MCC, or other treatedcellulosic material.

Cellulosic fibers used in the methods, systems, and oral productsprovided herein can be porous. When mixing liquid nicotine withcellulosic fiber, nicotine can become absorbed into the pores in thecellulosic fiber and held there by physical absorption (van der Waalsforces). The number, sizes, size distribution, chemical, and physicalproperties of the pores can impact the release rate of nicotineincorporated into cellulosic fiber and into an oral product. The releaserate can also be manipulated due to compressions cellulosic fiber (e.g.,by chewing the oral product).

Methods for stabilizing nicotine provided herein can include mixingliquid nicotine with cellulosic fiber such that the liquid nicotineabsorbs into pores of the cellulosic fiber to form a cellulosicfiber-nicotine mixture. In some cases, the liquid nicotine can includeat least 1 weight percent nicotine. In some cases, the liquid nicotinecan include between 2 weight percent and 75 weight percent nicotine andat least one diluent. In some cases, the diluent is selected from thegroup consisting of plasticizers, humectants, flavorants, or acombination thereof. A method provided herein can include dilutingliquid nicotine with a diluent prior to mixing the liquid nicotine withcellulosic fiber. A method provided herein can include allowing thecellulosic fiber-nicotine mixture to equilibrate within a sealedcontainer for at least 1 hour. In some cases, cellulosic fiber used in amethod provided herein can include pores having an average pore size ofbetween about 3 nanometers and about 300 nanometers. In some cases, aratio of liquid nicotine to cellulosic fiber by weight in the cellulosicfiber-nicotine mixture is between 1/1000 and 50/50.

Methods for making an oral product provided herein can include mixingliquid nicotine with cellulosic fiber to produce a cellulosicfiber-nicotine mixture, mixing the cellulosic fiber-nicotine mixturewith one or more binders to form an oral product pre-molding mixture,and molding the oral product pre-molding mixture into an oral producthaving a binder matrix, cellulosic fiber within the matrix, and nicotinewithin pores of the cellulosic fiber. The cellulosic fiber-nicotinemixture can be made using the processes and constituents providedherein. For example, liquid nicotine can be diluted with propyleneglycol to a concentration of between 5% and 25% nicotine prior to mixingthe liquid nicotine with the cellulosic fiber to form the cellulosicfiber-nicotine mixture. In some cases, a ratio of liquid nicotine tocellulosic fiber by weight in the cellulosic fiber-nicotine mixture isbetween 1/1000 and 50/50. In some cases, the binder includes a polymer.In some cases, the binder includes a water-soluble polymer. In somecases, the binder includes a mouth-stable polymer. In some cases, thebinder includes a chewing gum base. In some cases, the binder isselected from the group consisting of dextrin or dextrin derivative,carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, starch,konjac, collagen, inulin, soy protein, whey protein, casein, wheatgluten, carrageenan, alginates, propylene glycol alginate, xanthan,dextrin, pullulan, curdlan, gellan, locust bean gum, guar gum, tara gum,gum tragacanth, pectin, agar, zein, karaya, gelatin, psyllium seed,chitin, chitosan, gum acacia, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene oxide,polyvinyl alcohol, guar gum, xanthan, cellulose, maltodextrin or othermodified starch, polyurethane, silicon polymer, polyester, polyacrylate,polyethylene, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) (“SEBS”),poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) (“SBS”),poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene)(“SIS”), couma macrocarpa, loquat, tunu,jelutong, chicle, styrene-butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, andpolyisobutylene, glycerol esters of gum, terpene resins, polyvinylacetate, paraffin, microcrystalline wax, hydrogenated vegetable oils,lecithin, glycerol monosterate, natural latexes, chicle, spruce gum,mastic gum, or a combination thereof. In some cases, molding the oralproduct pre-molding mixture into the oral product includes compressionmolding the oral product pre-molding mixture into a predetermined shape.In some cases, molding the oral product pre-molding mixture into theoral product includes extruding and cutting the oral product pre-moldingmixture into a predetermined shape. In some cases, molding the oralproduct pre-molding mixture into the oral product includes injectionmolding the oral product pre-molding mixture into a predetermined shape.In some cases, the oral product pre-molding mixture includes a drymixture of ingredients. In some cases, the oral product pre-moldingmixture is substantially free of ion-exchange resins. In some cases, theoral product pre-molding mixture is substantially free of bufferingagents.

An oral product provided herein can include a mixture of cellulosicfiber and liquid nicotine where the liquid nicotine is absorbed intopores of the cellulosic fiber. In some cases, the oral product includesa binder holding the mixture of cellulosic fiber and liquid nicotinetogether into a solid piece. An oral product provided herein can have apredetermined shape. In some cases, the predetermined shape is formed byone or more of the processes provided herein. The binder(s) in the oralproduct provided herein can be the binders provided herein. The mixtureof cellulosic fiber and liquid nicotine can be the cellulosicfiber-nicotine mixtures provided herein. In some cases, oral productsprovided herein can include a container. In some cases, an oral productprovided herein can include a loose mixture of cellulosic fiber andliquid nicotine deposited within a container.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features and advantages willbe apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart depicting an example of how liquid nicotine canbe combined with cellulosic fiber and molded into an oral product.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This document provides methods and systems related to stabilizing liquidnicotine, incorporating liquid nicotine into an oral product, andproviding an oral product having desirable nicotine-releasecharacteristics. Liquid nicotine can be stabilized by mixing liquidnicotine with cellulosic fiber such that the liquid nicotine absorbsinto pores of the cellulosic fiber to form a cellulosic fiber-nicotinemixture. An oral product can be manufactured by mixing a cellulosicfiber-nicotine mixture provided herein with one or more binders to forman oral product pre-molding mixture and molding the oral productpre-molding mixture into an oral product. Combining liquid nicotine withcellulosic fiber as provided herein can provide stabilized nicotine thatcan be used in a wide variety of molding operations, includingcompression molding techniques that call for dry ingredients. An oralproduct provided herein can have desirable nicotine-releasecharacteristics.

Nicotine

Liquid nicotine used in cellulosic fiber-nicotine mixture providedherein can be tobacco-derived nicotine, synthetic nicotine, or acombination thereof. Liquid nicotine can be purchased from commercialsources, whether tobacco-derived or synthetic. Tobacco-derived nicotinecan include one or more other tobacco organoleptic components other thannicotine. The tobacco-derived nicotine can be extracted from raw (e.g.,green leaf) tobacco and/or processed tobacco. Processed tobaccos caninclude fermented and unfermented tobaccos, dark air-cured, dark firecured, burley, flue cured, and cigar filler or wrapper, as well as theproducts from the whole leaf stemming operation. The tobacco can also beconditioned by heating, sweating and/or pasteurizing steps as describedin U.S. Publication Nos. 2004/0118422 or 2005/0178398. Fermentingtypically is characterized by high initial moisture content, heatgeneration, and a 10 to 20% loss of dry weight. See, e.g., U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,528,993; 4,660,577; 4,848,373; and 5,372,149. By processing thetobacco prior to extracting nicotine and other organoleptic components,the tobacco-derived nicotine may include ingredients that provide afavorable experience. The tobacco-derived nicotine can be obtained bymixing cured and fermented tobacco with water or another solvent (e.g.,ethanol) followed by removing the insoluble tobacco material. Thetobacco extract may be further concentrated or purified. In some cases,select tobacco constituents can be removed. Nicotine can also beextracted from tobacco in the methods described in the followingpatents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,162,738; 3,139,436; 3,396,735; 4,153,063;4,448,208; and 5,487,792.

Liquid nicotine can be pure, substantially pure, or diluted prior tocombination with cellulosic fiber. A diluting step shown in FIG. 1 isoptional. In some cases, liquid nicotine is diluted to a concentrationof between 1 weight percent and 75 weight percent prior to mixing theliquid nicotine with the cellulosic fiber. In some cases, liquidnicotine is diluted to a concentration of between 2 weight percent and50 weight percent prior to mixing the liquid nicotine with thecellulosic fiber. In some cases, liquid nicotine is diluted to aconcentration of between 5 weight percent and 25 weight percent prior tomixing the liquid nicotine with the cellulosic fiber. For example,liquid nicotine can be diluted to a concentration of about 10 weightpercent prior to mixing the liquid nicotine with the cellulosic fiber.

In some cases, an oral product including a cellulosic fiber-nicotinemixture provided herein can include between 0.1 mg and 6.0 mg of liquidnicotine. In some cases, an oral product including a cellulosicfiber-nicotine mixture provided herein includes between 1.0 mg and 3.0mg of liquid nicotine.

Diluent

As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid nicotine can be diluted prior to mixingthe liquid nicotine with the cellulosic fiber. Liquid nicotine can bediluted with any suitable diluent. Diluting the liquid nicotine canprovide more liquid volume for the liquid nicotine to help meter aprecise amount of nicotine. Diluents can also facilitate absorption ofnicotine into cellulosic fiber. In some cases, the diluent can be one ormore plasticizers, one or more humectants, one or more flavorants, or acombination thereof. In some cases, a single substance can serve as botha plasticizer and a humectant, both a humectant and a flavorant, both aplasticizer and a flavorant, or as all three. For example, propyleneglycol can serve as both a plasticizer and a humectant. For example,honey can serve as both a humectant and a flavorant. In some cases, thediluent can include a solvent (e.g., ethanol, water, etc.). In somecases, ethanol can be used as a diluent. Ethanol can act as a solvent,but also provide some plasticizing characteristics in the methods,systems, and products provided herein. In some cases, the diluent caninclude a sweetener. In some cases, the diluent can include acombination of plasticizers, humectants, solvents, sweeteners, and/orflavorants such that the cellulosic fiber-nicotine mixture mimics theflavor profile and tactile experience of certain tobacco products.

Suitable plasticizers include propylene glycol, glycerin, vegetable oil,partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, and medium chain triglycerides. Insome cases, the plasticizer can include phthalates. Esters ofpolycarboxylic acids with linear or branched aliphatic alcohols ofmoderate chain length can also be used as plasticizers. In addition toserving as a diluent, plasticizers can facilitate the molding processesdescribed below. Plasticizers can, in some cases, soften an oralproduct. In some cases, an oral product can include up to 20 weightpercent plasticizer. In some cases, an oral product includes between 0.5and 10 weight percent plasticizer, between 1 and 8 weight percentplasticizer, or between 2 and 4 weight percent plasticizer. For example,an oral product can include about 3 to 6.5 weight percent of propyleneglycol.

A humectant is a substance that is used to keep things moist. Humectantscan be hygroscopic. Suitable humectants include propylene glycol,hexylene glycol, butylene glycol, glyceryl triacetate, vinyl alcohol,neoagarobiose, sugar polyols (such as glycerol, sorbitol (E420),xylitol, maltitol, mannitol, and isomalt), polymeric polyols (e.g.,polydextrose), quillaia, alpha hydroxyl acids (e.g., lactic acid),glycerin, aloe vera gel, and honey.

Flavorants can be natural or artificial. Flavorants can be selected fromthe following: licorice, wintergreen, cherry and berry type flavorants,Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender,cinnamon, cardamon, apium graveolens, clove, cascarilla, nutmeg,sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemonoil, orange oil, Japanese mint, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmin,chamomile, menthol, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, pimento, ginger, anise,coriander, coffee, mint oils from a species of the genus Mentha, cocoa,and combinations thereof. Synthetic flavorants can also be used. Incertain embodiments, a combination of flavorants can be combined toimitate a tobacco flavor. The particular combination of flavorants canbe selected from the flavorants that are generally recognized as safe(“GRAS”).

A variety of synthetic and/or natural sweeteners can be used as in thediluent or added separately to an oral product. Suitable naturalsweeteners include sugars, for example, monosaccharides, disaccharides,and/or polysaccharide sugars, and/or mixtures of two or more sugars. Insome cases, a diluent can include one or more of the following: sucroseor table sugar; honey or a mixture of low molecular weight sugars notincluding sucrose; glucose or grape sugar or corn sugar or dextrose;molasses; corn sweetener; corn syrup or glucose syrup; fructose or fruitsugar; lactose or milk sugar; maltose or malt sugar or maltobiose;sorghum syrup; mannitol or manna sugar; sorbitol or d-sorbite ord-sobitol; fruit juice concentrate; and/or mixtures or blends of one ormore of these ingredients. Diluent can, in some cases, includenon-nutritive sweeteners. Suitable non-nutritive sweeteners include:stevia, saccharin; aspartame; sucralose; or acesulfame potassium.

Cellulosic Fiber

Cellulosic fiber used in the methods, systems, and oral productsprovided herein can be derived from plant tissue. In some cases,cellulosic fiber used in the methods, systems, and oral productsprovided herein can include cellulose. Cellulosic fiber used in themethods, systems, and oral products provided herein can further includelignin and/or lipids. Suitable sources for cellulosic fibers includewood pulp, cotton, sugar beets, bran, citrus pulp fiber, switch grassand other grasses, Salix (willow), tea, and Populus (poplar), bamboo. Insome cases, cellulosic fiber used in the methods, systems, and oralproducts provided herein can be chopped or shredded plant tissuecomprising various natural flavors, sweeteners, or active ingredients.Cellulosic fiber used in the methods, systems, and oral productsprovided herein can include a plurality of fibers having a variety ofdimensions. In some cases, cellulosic fiber used in the methods,systems, and oral products provided herein can include one or morecellulosic fibers that are generally recognized as safe (“GRAS”) forhuman consumption.

The dimensions of the cellulosic fibers (in addition to the amount) canimpact the release characteristics of liquid nicotine from the mixtureand from an oral product provided herein. The release profile ofnicotine from an oral product can be impacted by both the fiber sizes,type and the amounts of cellulosic fiber. In some cases, the cellulosicfiber can be processed to have an average fiber size of less than 200micrometers. In some cases, the fibers can be between 75 and 125micrometers. In other embodiments, the fibers are processed to have asize of 75 micrometers or less. Cellulosic fiber can be hydrophilic,thus water soluble additives (e.g., nicotine) can preferentially beabsorbed into pores of the cellulosic fiber.

Cellulosic fiber used in the methods, systems, and oral productsprovided herein can have pores. In some cases, cellulosic fibersprovided herein have a pores sizes that range from between 3 nanometersto 300 nanometers. In some cases, cellulosic fibers provided herein havea pores sizes that range from between 10 nanometers to 200 nanometers.In some cases, cellulosic fibers provided herein have a pores sizes thatrange from between 20 nanometers to 100 nanometers. When mixing liquidnicotine with cellulosic fibers, nicotine can become absorbed into thepores in the cellulosic fibers and held there by van der Waals forces.The number, sizes, and size distribution, chemical, and physical surfaceproperties of the pores can impact the release rate of nicotineincorporated into cellulosic fiber and into an oral product. The releaserate can also be manipulated due to compression of cellulosic fiber(e.g., by chewing the oral product). The hydrophilicity of the cellulosefibers can be selected to provide a desired sensorial experience whenincluded in an oral product. For example, cellulosic fiber can behydrophilic, thus water soluble additives (e.g., nicotine) canpreferentially be absorbed in cellulosic fiber.

Mixing and Equilibrating

As show in FIG. 1, cellulosic fiber and liquid nicotine are mixed andequilibrated. The cellulosic fiber and liquid nicotine can be mixed in asuitable mixing device for any suitable length of time. In some cases,the cellulosic fiber and liquid nicotine can be mixed with a mixingimplement rotating at a speed of less than 500 rpm, less than 250 rpm,less than 150 rpm, less than 100 rpm, less than 60 rpm, less than 30rpm, or less than 10 rpm. For example, the mixer can be a Kitchenaid,Hobart Mixe, ribbon blender, or other mixing apparatus depending on thedesired batch size. In some cases, the cellulosic fiber and liquidnicotine can be mixed using a rotating and/or vibrating drum. In somecases, the cellulosic fibers and liquid nicotine can be mixed for atleast 1 minute, at least 3 minutes, at least 5 minutes, at least 10minutes, or at least 30 minutes prior to incorporating a resultingcellulosic fiber-nicotine mixture into an oral product.

After mixing cellulosic fiber and liquid nicotine, the cellulosicfiber-nicotine mixture can be equilibrated in a sealed container. Insome cases, the sealed container can be a bag (e.g., a poly bag). Insome cases, the cellulosic fiber-nicotine mixture can be equilibratedfor at least 30 minutes, at least 1 hour, at least 2 hours, at least 4hours, at least 6 hours, at least 8 hours, or at least 10 hours prior touse or incorporation into an oral product. In some cases, a cellulosicfiber-nicotine mixture can be further mixed or agitated during theequilibrating process. For example, a cellulosic fiber-nicotine mixtureequilibrating in a poly bag can be agitated during the equilibratingprocess at a select time (e.g., 2 hours into the equilibrating process).

Oral Products

A cellulosic fiber-nicotine mixture provided herein can be combined withother ingredients and/or packaging to make an oral product. In somecases, an oral product provided herein can include a packaged quantityof a loose cellulosic fiber-nicotine mixture. In some cases, an oralproduct provided herein can include a quantity of cellulosicfiber-nicotine mixture within a porous pouch. In some cases, an oralproduct provided herein can include a molded body including at least onebinder and a cellulosic fiber-nicotine mixture.

Cellulosic fiber-nicotine mixtures provided herein can be used tostabilize liquid nicotine for incorporation into an oral product. Insome cases, an oral product provided herein can be produced bycompression molding an oral product pre-molding mixture formed by mixingat least one or more binders and a cellulosic fiber-nicotine mixtureprovided herein. The oral product pre-molding mixture can be produced bycompression molding a dry mixture. A dry mixture, as the term is usedherein, means that the components are introduced to the moldingapparatus in a solid form, as opposed to a liquid or melted form. Dryingredients, for example, can include cellulosic fiber having absorbednicotine, sugar alcohols, gums, maltodextrin, polysaccharides,sweeteners, flavors, and/or antioxidants. In some cases, the oralproduct pre-molding mixture can be sintered to form an oral product. Insome cases, the oral product pre-molding mixture can be injection moldedto form an oral product. In some cases, the oral product pre-moldingmixture can be extruded and cut to form one or more oral products.

An oral product provided herein can further include one or moreflavorants, sweeteners, humectants, and/or plasticizers, such as theflavorants, sweeteners, humectants, and plasticizers discussed above. Asnoted above, flavorants, sweeteners, humectants, and/or plasticizers canbe added to the liquid nicotine to dilute the liquid nicotine. In somecases, flavorants, sweeteners, humectants, and/or plasticizers can beadded to a cellulosic fiber-nicotine mixture provided herein afternicotine is absorbed. In some cases, flavorants, sweeteners, humectants,and/or plasticizers can be mixed with binder and a cellulosicfiber-nicotine mixture provided herein to form an oral productpre-molding mixture. Oral products provided herein can also includeanti-oxidants and/or colorants.

The body of the oral product can have a variety of different shapes,some of which include disk, shield, rectangle, and square. According tocertain embodiments, the body can have a length or width of between 5 mmand 100 mm and a thickness of between 1 mm and 30 mm.

Binder

The binder can be any suitable material that can hold a quantity of acellulosic fiber-nicotine mixture provided herein together as a singlepiece.

In some cases, the binder can be a water-soluble polymer such that aresulting oral product can dissolve in an adult consumer's mouth. Forexample, the binder can be a carbohydrate. In some cases, the binderincludes a hydroxyl containing compound, a dextrin or dextrinderivative, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose,hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methylcellulose, starch, konjac, collagen, inulin, soy protein, whey protein,casein, wheat gluten, carrageenan, alginates, propylene glycol alginate,xanthan, dextrin, pullulan, curdlan, gellan, locust bean gum, guar gum,tara gum, gum tragacanth, pectin, agar, zein, karaya, gelatin, psylliumseed, chitin, chitosan, gum acacia, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethyleneoxide, polyvinyl alcohol, or a combination thereof. In some cases, thebinder is selected from the group of guar gum, xanthan, cellulose, andcombinations thereof. In some cases, the binder can include maltodextrinor other modified starches.

In some cases, the binder can be a mouth-stable polymer. A suitablemouth-stable polymer can include polyurethane, silicon polymer,polyester, polyacrylate, polyethylene,poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) (“SEBS”),poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) (“SBS”),poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene)(“SIS”), and other similar thermoplasticelastomers, or any copolymer, mixture, or combination thereof.

In some cases, the binder can be a chewing gum base. A chewing gum basecan include ingredients from the following categories: elastomers (suchas couma macrocarpa, loquat, tunu, jelutong, chicle, styrene-butadienerubber, butyl rubber, and polyisobutylene); resins (such as glycerolesters of gum, terpene resins, and/or polyvinyl acetate); waxes (such asparaffin or microcrystalline wax); fats (such as hydrogenated vegetableoils); emulsifiers (such as lecithin or glycerol monosterate); fillers(such as calcium carbonate or talc); antioxidants (e.g., BHT, BHA,tocopherol, ascorbyl palmitate). In some cases, a chewing gum base caninclude natural latexes, vegetable gums (e.g., chicle), spruce gum,and/or mastic gum.

A number of embodiments of the invention have been described.Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An oral product comprising: a loose mixtureincluding, a cellulosic fiber, the cellulosic fiber comprising a woodpulp, cotton, a sugar beet, a bran, a citrus pulp fiber, a switch grass,a grass, Salix, a tea, Populus, a bamboo fiber, a sub-combinationthereof, or a combination thereof, and diluted nicotine absorbed intopores of the cellulosic fiber, the diluted nicotine including, nicotine,and a diluent, the diluent including a plasticizer, the plasticizerincluding propylene glycol, glycerin, vegetable oil, partiallyhydrogenated vegetable oil, medium chain triglycerides, asub-combination thereof, or a combination thereof.
 2. The oral productof claim 1, wherein the nicotine is present in an amount ranging fromabout 0.1 mg to about 6.0 mg.
 3. The oral product of claim 2, whereinthe nicotine is present in an amount ranging from about 1.0 mg to about3.0 mg.
 4. The oral product of claim 1, wherein the nicotine comprisestobacco-derived nicotine, synthetic nicotine, or both tobacco-derivednicotine and synthetic nicotine.
 5. The oral product of claim 1, whereinthe nicotine is present in the diluted nicotine in an amount greaterthan or equal to about 1 weight percent.
 6. The oral product of claim 1,wherein the nicotine is present in the diluted nicotine in an amountranging from about 2 weight percent to about 75 weight percent.
 7. Theoral product of claim 1, wherein the pores have an average pore sizeranging from about 3 nanometers to about 300 nanometers.
 8. The oralproduct of claim 1, wherein the pores have an average pore size rangingfrom about 10 nanometers to about 200 nanometers.
 9. The oral product ofclaim 8, wherein the pores have an average pore size ranging from about20 nanometers to about 100 nanometers.
 10. The oral product of claim 1,wherein the plasticizer comprises the propylene glycol.
 11. The oralproduct of claim 1, wherein the plasticizer is present in the oralproduct an amount ranging from about 2 weight percent to about 4 weightpercent.
 12. The oral product of claim 1, wherein the plasticizer ispresent in the oral product in an amount ranging from about 3 weightpercent to about 6.5 weight percent.
 13. An oral product comprising: aloose mixture including, a cellulosic fiber, the cellulosic fibercomprising a wood pulp, cotton, sugar beet, a bran, a citrus pulp fiber,a switch grass, a grass, Salix, a tea, Populus, a bamboo fiber, asub-combination thereof, or a combination thereof, and diluted nicotineabsorbed into pores of the cellulosic fiber, the diluted nicotineincluding, nicotine, and a diluent, the diluent including a sweetener, ahumectant, a flavorant, a sub-combination thereof, or a combinationthereof.
 14. The oral product of claim 13, wherein the diluent comprisesthe sweetener.
 15. The oral product of claim 13, wherein the sweetenercomprises a natural sweetener.
 16. The oral product of claim 15, whereinthe natural sweetener comprises a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, apolysaccharide, a sub-combination thereof, or a combination thereof. 17.The oral product of claim 15, wherein the natural sweetener compriseshoney.
 18. The oral product of claim 13, wherein the diluent comprisesthe humectant, the humectant including propylene glycol, hexyleneglycol, butylene glycol, glyceryl triacetate, vinyl alcohol,neoagarobiose, a sugar polyol, a polymeric polyol, quillaia, an alphahydroxyl acid, glycerin, aloe vera gel, honey, a sub-combinationthereof, or a combination thereof.
 19. The oral product of claim 13,wherein the diluent comprises the flavorant, the flavorant includinglicorice, wintergreen, cherry, a berry type flavorant, Drambuie,bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cinnamon,cardamon, apium graveolens, clove, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood,bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orangeoil, Japanese mint, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmin, chamomile, menthol,ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, pimento, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee,mint oils from a species of the genus Mentha, cocoa, a sub-combinationthereof, or a combination thereof.
 20. The oral product of claim 13,wherein the diluted nicotine comprises the nicotine in an amount rangingfrom about 2 weight percent to about 75 weight percent.
 21. The oralproduct of claim 13, wherein the pores have an average pore size rangingfrom about 3 nanometers to about 300 nanometers.